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Best Things To Do in NYC on a Staycation with Kids 

1. Bronx Children's Museum

Explore the history, culture, and local waterways of the Boogie Down at the Bronx Children's Museum.

2. Statue of Liberty

Finally visit the Statue of Liberty and the on-site museum. Newly expanded hours for the ferry service make it easier than ever to visit.

3. Queens Zoo

Head to the Queens Zoo to enjoy the animals, aviary, petting zoo, farm, and more.

RELATED: NYC on a Budget: Cheap Things To Do and Money Saving Tips

Explore over-the-top sensory fun at the Sloomoo Institute. Photo by Jody Mercier

4. Sloomoo Institute

Roll up your sleeves and get ready to get slimed at the Sloomoo Institute in Soho. This museum of slime provides plenty of hands-on, sensory fun.

5. Rise NY

See NYC in a whole new way at Rise NY, which is part museum, part immersive experience.

6. Bike Ride

Pedal down Manhattan's West Side bike path from Inwood to Battery Park City, or trek north along the Empire State Trail.

7. Staten Island Ferry

Hop aboard the Staten Island Ferry then get off and explore the neighborhood. We've found more than 50 fun things to do borough-wide.

RELATED: NYC's Best Playgrounds: 18 Spots Worthy of a Subway Schlep

Take a walk in nature at Wave Hill. Photo courtesy of Wave Hill

8. Riverdale

Explore the family-friendly enclave of Riverdale, which is perched on the Hudson River. While you're there, be sure to visit Wave Hill, a gorgeous 28-acre public garden and culture center with extensive programming for families.

9. Queens County Farm Museum

Check out NYC's only working farm at the Queens County Farm Museum.

10. Milk & Cookies Kids Spa

Everyone needs a little self-care, and at Milk & Cookies Kids Spa you can indulge in parent-and-me treatments or just treat the kids.

11. Chelsea Market

Check out the cool, family-friendly Chelsea Market. Visit Artechouse, nosh on some tasty eats, and shop a kid-pleasers like Posman Books, Pearl River Mart, and the newly opened Economy Candy.

RELATED: Family-Friendly Guide to Museums in NYC

Movies have never had a better backdrop than the one at Greenpoint, Brooklyn's Skyline Drive-in. Photo courtesy Skyline Drive-In

12. Drive-In Movies

Still haven't made it to a drive-in movie? The Skyline Drive-In is going strong on the Greenpoint waterfront—no car, no problem: There's outdoor seating, too.

13. The Battery

Visit the nature-inspired Battery Playscape, which features plenty of interactive play areas, a performance space, and loads of room for kids to get their wiggles out. Make sure to save time for a spin on the enchanting SeaGlass Carousel.

14. Prospect Park

Explore all the family-friendly destinations Prospect Park has to offer.

15. Go Bowling

Visit one of these family-friendly bowling alleys in NYC for kids.

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Climb aboard the Wild Asia Monorail to see the elephants at the Bronx Zoo. Photo by Julie Larsen Maher for WCS

16. Bronx Zoo

Get up close and personal with the residents of the Bronx Zoo, or explore the rest of Bronx Park.

17. New York Botanical Garden

Head to the New York Botanical Garden to explore the lovely grounds. When you're done, visit the real Little Italy: Arthur Avenue for some authentic eats.

18. Destination Playground

Find a new-to-you playground or explore one of the city's top playgrounds.

19. Museum Hop

Check out our Guide to Kid-Friendly Museums, which includes the best things to do at The Met, AMNH, MoMA, and more. We've also got details on how to score FREE admission.

RELATED: 100 Free Things To Do in NYC With Kids

Walk through the coral tunnel to see sharks and more at the New York Aquarium. Photo by Julie Larsen Maher for WCS

20. New York Aquarium

Get face-to-face with sharks, sea lions, penguins, and more at the New York Aquarium. When you're done, stroll down the Coney Island boardwalk.

21. Brooklyn Bridge

Stroll across the mighty Brooklyn Bridge and wind your way through Brooklyn Bridge Park, with its stunning vistas, lovely carousel, and multiple playgrounds. While you're there, be sure to check out the Pier 2 Uplands.

22. Riverbank State Park

Head to Riverbank State Park where you'll find lots of recreational activities for kids and families and plenty of sports fields and courts.

23. Indoor Play Spaces

Take cover from nasty weather with a trip to one of these indoor play spaces.

RELATED: 20 Indoor Places To Play for Free in NYC

Explore the artifacts and installations at the City Island Nautical Museum. Photo by Suzy Q

24. City Island

Visit City Island for a taste of New England's shore towns without the travel.

25. Go Hiking

Walk the trails at Inwood Hill Park or explore another underrated NYC park.

26. Central Park

Go off the beaten path to explore the hidden areas of Central Park.

27. Splash Pad

Once the temperature soars—and the sprinklers spring to life—get yourself to the mega splash pad at the foot of the Unisphere.

RELATED: Petting Zoos near NYC Where Kids Can See Farm Animals

Go climbing at The Cliffs Harlem, or another local rock climbing gym. Photo by Jody Mercier

28. Rock Climbing

Go climbing at The Cliffs at Harlem, its supersized sister location in Gowanus, or one of these other family-friendly rock-climbing spots.

29. Birdwatching

Head to the Central Park Ramble to see what kinds of feathered friends you can spot. If you're lucky, you might see Flaco, the fugitive escapee from the Central Park Zoo.

30. Liberty State Park

Board the ferry for Jersey and explore Liberty State Park before venturing to one of our favorite northern New Jersey museums: the Liberty Science Center.

31. Union Square

The lovely Union Square and Flatiron neighborhoods are packed with family-friendly things to do, plus a pair of destination playgrounds, and plenty of eats.

RELATED: Best Carousels in NYC: 13 Merry-Go-Rounds City Kids Love

Explore the artfully engineered public park Little Island. Photo by Liz Ligon

32. Little Island

If you haven't been yet, visit the floating park, Little Island, which features a 687-seat amphitheater, plenty of space to run around, and dazzling views of the city and the Hudson River.

33. Escape Room

Visit one of NYC's many kid-friendly escape rooms where families can work together to solve complex puzzles.

34. Observation Deck

When was the last time you took in the city views from a sky-high POV? Play tourist and visit one of these observation decks for a memorable new view.

35. NYPL Main Branch

Pose for a pic with Patience and Fortitude, then dip inside to explore the halls of the Steven A. Schwarzman Building, including its Polonsky Exhibition where you can see a handwritten copy of the Declaration of Independence penned by Thomas Jefferson.

RELATED: American Museum of Natural History: Ultimate Guide to Visiting

Haggle with the street vendors during an NYC staycation visit to Chinatown. Photo by Mommy Poppins

36. Chinatown

Transport yourself to a completely different world by wandering the streets of Chinatown, where you can enjoy dim sum, dumplings, ice cream, and more.

37. Eat in Little Italy

Up for a different culinary adventure downtown? Try one of these family-friendly restaurants in Little Italy. Don't forget to save room for cannoli, gelato, or both!

38. TKTS Booth

Play a little Broadway roulette and visit one of the TKTS Booths to score discounted tickets to one of our Broadway shows for families.

39. Food Hall

Taste the world in one sitting with a visit to one of these family-friendly food halls where everyone can get their favorites, and you can take a night off of dinner duty.

RELATED: Visit the High Line With Kids: Top Things To Do

Kids can get up close to the actors at a Puppetsburg puppet show. Photo by Derek Wang

40. Puppet Show

Cheaper than a Broadway show, and aimed toward the sippy cup set, these NYC puppet theaters transport you to a fairytale destination.

41. Arcade

Teach your kids old-school games at one of these family-friendly arcades.

42. Indoor Ice Skating

No matter the temperature outside, you can find some cool fun at one of these indoor ice skating rinks in NYC.

43. Color Factory

Get to know some new hues and take a dive into the ball pit at Color Factory, the Instagrammable, treat-packed, colorful wonderland in Chelsea.

44. High Tea

Turn any day into a special occasion with high tea at one of these local restaurants.

RELATED: Times Square with Kids: What To Do Beyond the Tourist Spots

Magna-Tile lovers can build for hours at Genius Gems. Photo by Jody Mercier

45. Genius Gems

Build with Magna-Tiles, play with slime, or hit the 3D print lab at the STEM play space Genius Gems in Chelsea.

46. City Point Brooklyn

Play at Camp, peep at some public art, visit DeKalb Market Hall, and shop to your heart's content at City Point Brooklyn.

47. Mini Golf

Hit the greens at these miniature golf courses in NYC.

RELATED: Best Children's Museums for Families to Visit in New York City

Take a thrilling ride on the Roosevelt Island tram. Photo courtesy of NYCGo

48. Roosevelt Island Tram

Take the tram to Roosevelt Island, and then get off and explore all the family-friendly things to do on the lovely island.

49. Preschool Staycation

Play a little kid adventure with one of these NYC itineraries just right for little ones.

50. Chelsea Piers

From camps and classes to bowling, rock climbing, a carousel, and more, the riverfront Chelsea Piers complex offers enough things to do to fill an entire day.

RELATED: Family-Friendly Hotels in New York City with Perks for Kids

See whales, dolphins, and seabirds on a whale-watching cruise right from NYC docks. 

51. Whale Watching

Set sail on the high seas in search of whales, dolphins, seabirds, and more on these local whale-watching excursions.

52. Flushing Meadows Corona Park

This Queens green space overflows with family-friendly things to do.

53. Day Trip to Legoland New York

Bring your brick-loving kids to the nearby amusement park. Check the website for Legoland deals. 

54. Check the Bucket List

Bookmark our list of 100 things to do in NYC with kids before they grow up and cross off one of our rites of passage.

A version of this article was first published in April 2009, but it is updated annually.